Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[kodo]

I can't believe some people weren't excited for this series.

This is possibly one of the best NBA finals I've experienced.

Can't wait for game 7.

It was supposed to be a 4-0 sweep. By odds, this was the most lopsided Finals in NBA history.
Even if OKC wins G7, this was a pretty big disappointment for the "best" team ever.

[MrSparkle]

One thought regarding this Thunder team… obviously 1-2Y away from the big decisions… but next summer, JWill may be eligible for that supermax if he makes All-NBA... and the following summer, Shai will probably get one of the biggest NBA contracts ever. And then Chet’s up for pay day, especially if he happens to win DPOY or All-NBA.

Obviously a perennial championship trio, but I can still see them not being able to afford to keep the “dynasty” running into its prime.

Becoming so good, so young, is the double-edged sword. Good problems to have. But I would say there’s some urgency to win that ring this Sunday, and not rest on a bright future. OKC’s 2012 finals were that young core’s first and last appearance.

[ImSlower]

I'm really excited for Sunday's Game 7. I'd say I'm almost completely neutral, as I really enjoy both of those young teams and there are zero players on either roster I highly dislike. That's big, as I'm a cranky old bastard (I know, looking at our account dates, we all are these days) and some guys like Harden I literally can't even watch play without getting upset. So it's been an utter joy watching two teams who play the kind of basketball I enjoy gut it out. I'm even tolerating SGA's constant elbowing for space and flails-for-contact, because whenever he's not doing that bull, he's making some incredibly tough floater, or playing sneaky good defense, or being a terrific vocal leader for his squad.

That said, I'm definitely in Indy's corner here. TJ is literally my favorite kind of player; a la rookie Butler, he's just 110% hustle and court awareness at all times, and that 3rd quarter last game was amazing as he single-handedly iced any attempt at an OKC comeback. I rooted for Haliburton pre-draft - I attended ISU before Tyrese was born, yikes. I would be delighted if he manages to gut out this leg injury and has a banger of a game in enemy territory, with Reggie watching.

Even better for us Bulls fans, the next day the off-season starts and we can really start some heated argoments about each other's completely flabbergastingly stupid draft opinions! I'm loving it; look at how many guys our different Bulls fans are championing. I think I've heard at least 10 prospects pretty passionately argued for already. It's gonna be so fun, and then a whole lot of us will be really pissed off! Let's go Bulls!

[MrSparkle]

I'm really excited for Sunday's Game 7. I'd say I'm almost completely neutral, as I really enjoy both of those young teams and there are zero players on either roster I highly dislike. That's big, as I'm a cranky old bastard (I know, looking at our account dates, we all are these days) and some guys like Harden I literally can't even watch play without getting upset. So it's been an utter joy watching two teams who play the kind of basketball I enjoy gut it out. I'm even tolerating SGA's constant elbowing for space and flails-for-contact, because whenever he's not doing that bull, he's making some incredibly tough floater, or playing sneaky good defense, or being a terrific vocal leader for his squad.

That said, I'm definitely in Indy's corner here. TJ is literally my favorite kind of player; a la rookie Butler, he's just 110% hustle and court awareness at all times, and that 3rd quarter last game was amazing as he single-handedly iced any attempt at an OKC comeback. I rooted for Haliburton pre-draft - I attended ISU before Tyrese was born, yikes. I would be delighted if he manages to gut out this leg injury and has a banger of a game in enemy territory, with Reggie watching.

Even better for us Bulls fans, the next day the off-season starts and we can really start some heated argoments about each other's completely flabbergastingly stupid draft opinions! I'm loving it; look at how many guys our different Bulls fans are championing. I think I've heard at least 10 prospects pretty passionately argued for already. It's gonna be so fun, and then a whole lot of us will be really pissed off! Let's go Bulls!

I’m with you.

As always with the draft, I find guys I like, don’t like… change my mind about 3x… then at the end, settle on the unlikely 10% probability we get a game-changer.

I just don’t love AK’s draft record. Including his Denver busts and trades, assuming he had a large say, (swapping Gobert and Mitchell for corn chips), it’s hard to have faith in his picks, particularly where it’s not a late-drop no-brainer. Any risk in taking Jokic with a SRP, even if he happened to have a better inside look at him? No. Any risk with Ayo and Matas? Not at all- they were consensus drops.

I’m just hoping for the drop. There are some later prospects like Coward and Fleming who intrigue me, but I can see them going to a San Antonio… could see AK not bothering investigating them.

Hoping Malauch, Queen, Kasparas drop… very nervous if CMB is our consensus pick, or he reaches for Sorber. Feel like these would be “need” picks, successors for Vuc, not talent picks.

Was high on Egor, but between Billy, Giddey, and AK’s “reaches”, also beginning to worry about that scenario. Along with Noa. Eye popping on paper but maybe in-game development’s too far away. I’m personally OK with that if they do have the ceiling.

[kodo]

One thought regarding this Thunder team… obviously 1-2Y away from the big decisions… but next summer, JWill may be eligible for that supermax if he makes All-NBA... and the following summer, Shai will probably get one of the biggest NBA contracts ever. And then Chet’s up for pay day, especially if he happens to win DPOY or All-NBA.

Obviously a perennial championship trio, but I can still see them not being able to afford to keep the “dynasty” running into its prime.

Becoming so good, so young, is the double-edged sword. Good problems to have. But I would say there’s some urgency to win that ring this Sunday, and not rest on a bright future. OKC’s 2012 finals were that young core’s first and last appearance.

Yes for a team like NY or GS or BOS they would pay to keep the contending team...but OKC is a tiny market and that ownership group let Harden go over I believe a $5M/year difference. Presti was pushing for them to keep him, but it was an ownership decision when money is concerned.

SGA $35M -> $73M extension (supermax)
Jalen Williams $6m -> $59M (all-nba 3rd team, supermax)
Chet $13M -> $49M
Lu Dort $18M
Caruso $20M
Hartenstein $30M

That's $249M for 5 players. They've blown way past the 2nd apron already. Add on all the penalties you've got a $500M roster similar to what Boston was faced with and likely going to blow up.

[Dan Z]

One thought regarding this Thunder team… obviously 1-2Y away from the big decisions… but next summer, JWill may be eligible for that supermax if he makes All-NBA... and the following summer, Shai will probably get one of the biggest NBA contracts ever. And then Chet’s up for pay day, especially if he happens to win DPOY or All-NBA.

Obviously a perennial championship trio, but I can still see them not being able to afford to keep the “dynasty” running into its prime.

Becoming so good, so young, is the double-edged sword. Good problems to have. But I would say there’s some urgency to win that ring this Sunday, and not rest on a bright future. OKC’s 2012 finals were that young core’s first and last appearance.

Yes for a team like NY or GS or BOS they would pay to keep the contending team...but OKC is a tiny market and that ownership group let Harden go over I believe a $5M/year difference. Presti was pushing for them to keep him, but it was an ownership decision when money is concerned.

SGA $35M -> $73M extension (supermax)
Jalen Williams $6m -> $59M (all-nba 3rd team, supermax)
Chet $13M -> $49M
Lu Dort $18M
Caruso $20M
Hartenstein $30M

That's $249M for 5 players. They've blown way past the 2nd apron already. Add on all the penalties you've got a $500M roster similar to what Boston was faced with and likely going to blow up.

They have draft picks that they can use to help shed salary and someone like Dort probably has some value (or neutral at worse) if they decide to move on from him. Their payroll will go up, but they have options.

Also, ownership might think differently this time around because they saw how the James Harden situation played out.

As for the urgency of the finals...it's urgent because they don't know if they'll get there again. A lot can happen in a year (look at Indiana..nobody predicted that they'd be in the finals).

[jc23]

Read on Twitter

[Chi town]

Read on Twitter

Now, those are some receipts!!!


Have no idea how that guy has the he does.

[Ccwatercraft]

Game 7s in the finals don't come around often and tomorrows game is worth being exited about. New teams, New Stars, and a New champion will be crowned.

My hope is that it comes down to the last couple minutes.

What a great playoff bracket this has been!

[Ice Man]

Read on Twitter

Perk isn't paid to be right. He's paid to believe that he's right, and for (somehow) people to find him entertaining when he says this stuff.

[kulaz3000]

Read on Twitter

I wasn't in my feeling, my a**. Shut up, fool, don't be so sensitive. They themselves make them look foolish. You getting up on your feelings about them, makes you look even more foolish.

[DuckIII]

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As if I'd voluntarily click a button and choose to listen to that dumbass.

No joke, I haven't listened to one second of ESPN's non-play-by-play coverage of the Finals since the first 5 minutes of the pregame show for Game 1. Its unbearable. And not just because of the unbearable personalities. There is no actual analysis happening. You have to go to SVP after the games and see who he interviews to actually learn anything.

[jc23]

Legler has been very good. I remember when i was young i hated that guy for beating Kerr in the 3 point percentage race that one year.

[DuckIII]

Legler has been very good. I remember when i was young i hated that guy for beating Kerr in the 3 point percentage race that one year.

He’s excellent. But he’s not a fire-starting dope so he gets buried in late night post-game coverage for people who actually want to learn something.

[Dan Z]

Read on Twitter

As if I'd voluntarily click a button and choose to listen to that dumbass.

No joke, I haven't listened to one second of ESPN's non-play-by-play coverage of the Finals since the first 5 minutes of the pregame show for Game 1. Its unbearable. And not just because of the unbearable personalities. There is no actual analysis happening. You have to go to SVP after the games and see who he interviews to actually learn anything.

Perk got lucky and the same when he was a player. He was awful on OKC.

I said this before, but I'll never understand why ESPN keeps hiring him.

[dumbell78]

Legler has been very good. I remember when i was young i hated that guy for beating Kerr in the 3 point percentage race that one year.

He’s excellent. But he’s not a fire-starting dope so he gets buried in late night post-game coverage for people who actually want to learn something.

100% agree, I actually search him out for breakdowns after games. His podcast work is fantastic, just the one pod he had for all his awards voting method showed just how serious he takes this.

Frankly almost everyone at ESPN is like the sports version of Entertainment Tonight way back in the day. Im hoping NBC coming back into the NBA business changes this formula.

[DuckIII]

Durant traded to Houston includes a return of the #10 pick. No way KJ falls to us now. He'll be perfect for the Suns if he makes it that far.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45561747/sources-suns-trading-kevin-durant-rockets-blockbuster-deal

The Phoenix Suns have agreed on a blockbuster trade, sending 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the draft and five second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Time to change my mock draft.

[GetBuLLish]

I'm really excited for Sunday's Game 7. I'd say I'm almost completely neutral, as I really enjoy both of those young teams and there are zero players on either roster I highly dislike. That's big, as I'm a cranky old bastard (I know, looking at our account dates, we all are these days) and some guys like Harden I literally can't even watch play without getting upset. So it's been an utter joy watching two teams who play the kind of basketball I enjoy gut it out. I'm even tolerating SGA's constant elbowing for space and flails-for-contact, because whenever he's not doing that bull, he's making some incredibly tough floater, or playing sneaky good defense, or being a terrific vocal leader for his squad.

That said, I'm definitely in Indy's corner here. TJ is literally my favorite kind of player; a la rookie Butler, he's just 110% hustle and court awareness at all times, and that 3rd quarter last game was amazing as he single-handedly iced any attempt at an OKC comeback. I rooted for Haliburton pre-draft - I attended ISU before Tyrese was born, yikes. I would be delighted if he manages to gut out this leg injury and has a banger of a game in enemy territory, with Reggie watching.

Even better for us Bulls fans, the next day the off-season starts and we can really start some heated argoments about each other's completely flabbergastingly stupid draft opinions! I'm loving it; look at how many guys our different Bulls fans are championing. I think I've heard at least 10 prospects pretty passionately argued for already. It's gonna be so fun, and then a whole lot of us will be really pissed off! Let's go Bulls!

What's up with the Hawkeyes logo?!

[ImSlower]

I rooted for Haliburton pre-draft - I attended ISU

What's up with the Hawkeyes logo?!

A great question! My folks met at Iowa, I always "was a Hawkeye" growing up but ISU offered me a huge scholarship and Iowa didn't. We grew up poor so my decision was made. I was the **** who has the rival University's pennant In my dorm room. But that state is very divided between the two big schools and it was relatively common. I haven't gone back to Ames in nearly 20 years though I do love Iowa City. I did end up transferring to Iowa eventually.

[MissileMike]

Something just popped in Hali's ankle, what a bummer for Indiana.